John L. Cochran Papers 1879-1885

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Preston Library
Virginia Military Institute
345 Letcher Ave.
Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jeffrey S. Kozak
Phone: (540) 464-7516
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7089

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The John L. Cochran Papers consist of a report card (1879) from the secondary school Cochran attended before entering the Virginia Military Institute; one letter (September 4, 1880) from VMI Cadet Cochran to his mother; a diary, with sketches (1881), containing short and sporadic entries made while he was a student at the Virginia Military Institute and concerning various aspects of cadet life; and four volumes of class notes (1882-1885) taken while Cochran was a student at Swarthmore College and the University of Virginia, with some examples of poetry and sketches interspersed.

Biographical / historical:

John Lynn Cochran was born at "Folly Farm" in Augusta County, Virginia on November 9, 1863. His parents were James C. Cochran and Elizabeth Brooke. He attended the Virginia Military Institute during the period 1879-1881, and subsequently attended Swarthmore College (Pennsylvania), from which he graduated in 1883. In the fall of 1883 he enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he became ill with typhoid fever. Cochran never regained his health and he died at "Folly Farm" on January 22, 1887.

Physical description:
The collection consists of 7 items.